Water Control Gate

ABSTRACT

A water control gate pivotable about a horizontal axis. Control may be by a combination of inflatable actuators and ballast chambers in combination with means for preventing over-rotation. Sealing between gate panels and between gate panels and abutments may be by means of seals inflated hydrostatically. The present invention is bottom hinged water control gate actuated by a combination of ballast chambers and inflatable actuators. The invention further includes an inflatable sealing means. The invention is particularly suited for use as a navigation lock gate system or as a flood control gate in a watercourse such as a navigation canal.

This application is a continuation of, and claims the benefit of andpriority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/079,541, filed Aug. 23,2018, which itself is the United States National Stage of InternationalApplication No. PCT/US2017/019222, filed Feb. 23, 2017 which claimsbenefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/298,815Feb. 23, 2016. Each said application is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to large scale water control gatesparticularly suited for use as flood barriers in ship canals and for useas lock gates for facilitation navigation between pools of differingsurface elevations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is comprised of one or more bottom hinged waterbarrier gates in conjunction with restraining means to preventoverturning of the gates in response to differential water pressure. Thegate panels preferably incorporate controllable ballast chambers used toeliminate or minimize the actuating force required to raise the gates.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates to water control gates that may be used to blockthe flow of water against differential head. Conventional miter typelock gates utilize gate panels swung about vertical axes and are limitedin width by the weight of the gate. Floating gates with vertical pivotaxes have been built. But these require large and precise, and thereforeexpensive, foundations. Gates actuated by inflatable bladders have beenbuilt to heights of approximately 8 meters. Greater heights require verylarge inflatable bladders. Radial gates, hydraulic flap gates, pelicangates, slide gates and roller gates all require intermediate piers whichmay be unacceptable in the case of a shipping channel, for example.

The present invention utilizes gate panels comprised of a horizontaledge pivotably attached to the bottom of the channel in combination withone or more ballast chambers that may be controllably filled with eitherwater or air in further combination with restraining means to preventover rotation of the gate panels in response to the force of the water.The ballast chambers may be utilized to facilitate water transport ofthe gate panels from the fabrication facility to the installation site,i.e., the gate panels may be simply floated, and then sunk, intoposition. The hinge means is preferably a reinforced elastomeric hingethat serves as both hinge and seal. Seals between gate panels arepreferably inflatable. The inflatable seals disclosed herein allowgenerous clearances between gate panels consistent with the dimensionaltolerances and long term dimensional stability achievable with largescale earth and concrete structures while also providing a desirablytight seal against water leakage. Hydrostatic inflation provides auniform sealing force throughout the vertical extent of the seal.Heating of rubber seals in accordance with prior art is difficult. Thisinvention provides convenient and effective seal heating as well as asealing force with a hydrostatic pressure gradient that closely matchesthe hydrostatic pressure gradient of the controlled water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 4 are views of the gates in the raised position viewed fromthe high water side.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are views of the gates in the raised position viewed fromthe low water side.

FIG. 5 is a view of the gates in the lowered position.

FIG. 6 is a schematic of a gate fitted with a hydrostatically inflatedand fluid heated inflatable seal.

FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 show gate panel cross sections with inflatable seals.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the general features of the gate inFIGS. 1 through 9. The gate panels 1 are preferably fitted with internalpipes 30 for emptying either water or air from the ballast chambers 31.Inflatable actuators 2, which may be filled with air or water, forexample, may be used in conjunction with buoyancy effects to raise gatepanels 1. Restraining means, such as restraining straps 3 may be used toprevent over-rotation of the gate panels and to resist hydrostatic loadsresulting from water on the restraining strap 3 side of gate panels 1.Gate panels 1 are preferably sealed to each other with interpanel sealassembly 7 and sealed to the abutments with abutment seal assemblies 8.Clamps 25 may be used to secure inflatable actuators 2 and hinge flaps22 to foundation 4. With gate panels 1 lowered, barges 31 my passbetween abutments 5. Referring to FIG. 6, gate panel 1 is held up byinflatable actuator 2 and positioned at its pivot edge 32 by hinge flap22. Hinge flap 22 is in turn secured by clamp 25. Clamp 25 is in turnsecured by anchor bolt 23 in conjunction with nut 24. Inflatable sealassembly 8 is provided, during freezing conditions, with circulatingheated fluid through supply line 29. Return line 28 returns fluid totank 33. Pump 26 circulates the fluid. Pressure control means 28provides a controllable gas pressure above the fluid in tank 33. Thepressure on the seal varies with elevation and is usefully highest atthe bottom of the gate 1 where differential pressure against the gate isgreatest.

Due to the large scale of the gates and the large relative motions ofthe foundations, inflatable seals may be used to provide a tight sealunder varying clearance conditions.

The inflatable seals my use circulated heated fluid to prevent iceproblems.

Strong restraining straps may be used to prevent overturning of thegates. Shield plates with stops may be used for this purpose instead.

What I claim is:
 1. A water control gate comprised of: at least onebottom hinged gate panel with an edge pivotably connected to a bottom ofa channel, at least one ballast chamber, at least one inflatable seal, atank, a supply line. a circulating heated fluid through supply line, apump, wherein, to prevent freezing, said at least one inflatable seal isprovided with heated fluid circulated to and from the tank via thesupply line by the pump, and at least one restraining strap to preventover-rotation of the gate panel(s) against a force of water.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1 further comprising an inflatable actuator.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one inflatable seal comprisessaid at least one inflatable seal along at least one gate panel edgeadjacent the gate panel pivot edge.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 furthercomprising at least one inflatable seal along at least one gate paneledge adjacent the gate panel pivot edge.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1wherein said water control gate has at least one moving and at least onestationary portion.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said at leastone inflatable seal comprises a said at least one inflatable seal whichis positioned to seal the clearance between said at least one moving andat least one stationary portion of said water control gate.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 6 wherein said inflatable seal is inflated with afluid so as to provide a hydrostatic pressure distribution within theseal.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said inflatable seal isconfigured to resist leakage in either direction.
 9. The apparatus ofclaim 8 wherein said water control gate blocks the flow of water in awatercourse.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising one or moregate panels with inflatable ballast chambers and restraining straps tolimit rotation of each gate panel.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 furtherincluding inflatable actuators for assisting rotation of the gates abouttheir horizontal pivot axis.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 furthercomprising a reinforced elastomeric hinge.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11wherein said at least one gate panel comprises a gate panel with atleast one marginal edge.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13 furthercomprising at least one inflatable seal at said at least one marginaledge of said at least one gate panel.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14wherein said inflatable seal comprises a liquid filled, inflatable sealalong said at least one marginal edge.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14further comprising a fluid filled stand pipe for maintaining sealpressure.
 17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the inflatable sealincludes a hinged portion.